The towering buildings and swarms of guards at the palace proved to be an intimidating sight. Chiara had been to the palace before, but never under these circumstances. What was once appeared like a friendly looking collection of government buildings from far away, now looked like a cold fortress. She swam hesitantly up to the front gate and breathed deeply through her gills.
As she approached the entrance, a guard greeted her. This guard was much taller than Chiara was, and her tail, which had a blue glow, was decorated in the distinct navy colored uniform of the royal guard. The guard looked at her cautiously and asked what she was doing there.
“I need to talk to the queen,” Chiara pleaded. Before the guard could shoot her down, Chiara interrupted. “My mother is ill. She’s the only one I have, and I don’t know what to do. I know the Queen is in contact with the Fae… Maybe she could get a magical remedy or something.” She’d started crying so she wiped her tears away hastily. “Please.”
Stoically, the guard eyed Chiara with a hint of concern, but otherwise there were no emotions giving her away. “My apologies.” the guard started, and Chiara could feel her heart drop. “The queen is very busy today with meetings. I will pass the message along, but I would not get your hopes up. The queen does not ever request magical support from the Fae.”
Chiara was devastated, but left without any trouble. She hadn’t expected the queen to just walk out in front of her and present her with a magical cure, but she had expected at least some response or perhaps some flicker of hope. She appreciated the guard’s honesty, but the response was heartbreaking. She worked her tail off trying to make some additional money to help her mom with, but it wasn’t enough and her mom’s condition had been getting worse recently. She’d already talked to a doctor on the surface and they weren’t any help either.
She couldn’t go back to her home just yet. Her mom had no idea where she’d gone, but she couldn’t face her, for fear of disappointing her. Instead, Chiara swam off to hopefully get some solitude. Her mind racing about what she could try next, she didn’t even notice herself swimming towards her and her mom’s favorite spot.
***
Ines was sat at her restaurant. She spent her time sitting outside at one of the mermaid accessible tables, bare feet dangling in the water, drinking tea, and reading one of her many books from her collection.This week, she’d chosen a classic: The Mermaid’s Tale. It was all about love and sacrifice, and she’d probably read it a hundred times already, but she loved it enough to read it once more.
Despite the good book in her hands and the calming effect of her herbal tea, Ines was lonely. The restaurant had closed for the day due to a holiday in the human’s religion. Though she was a human, she did not practice this holiday, but she knew that business would be slow because of it, so she’d given all her servers and kitchen staff the day off.
Ines was about to take another sip of her tea, when a small head popped up out of the water. Startled, she nearly spilled the rest of her drink, but she managed to control her tremor and set the cup down hastily.
“Oh, hello!” Ines called to the mermaid. “Unfortunately, we’re closed today.”
The mermaid turned, startled as well, and Ines recognized her immediately.
“Chiara!” Ines said happily. “It’s so nice to see you. It’s been quite some time since you and your mother came to the restaurant. I was beginning to worry.” She laughed a little to herself, but frowned when she saw the sad expression on Chiara’s face. “Are you alright, dear?”
Immediately, Chiara started crying.
Because she had trouble moving on her own, and Chiara was still in the water, Ines beckoned the girl over with gentle words. Eventually, and despite some hesitation, Chiara swam over to the table where Ines was sat, and took one of the seats that was partially submerged.
“Tea?” Ines offered.
Chiara nodded and drank the tea carefully when one of Ines’s Automata supplied it. It was hot enough to burn her tongue so she blew on it first and then drank it hastily. It had been a while since she’d had any human food.
“My grandson is working on some hoverboard technology,” Ines said, breaking the silence. She could tell Chiara wasn’t interested in talking, so she obliged to take over the conversation for the two of them. “He’s really into technology. I don’t personally understand it, but I’m glad it makes him happy. Sometimes I wonder if he gets too into his work, but I suppose its fine as long as he’s sleeping enough.”
The young mermaid was silent, but Ines could tell she was still listening.
“Did I ever tell you about the time I visited Silvercross?”
Chiara’s head jerked up at that, so Ines happily told her the story of how she ended up at Madrenice’s worst prison.
After her story finished, and Chiara had started actually speaking to Ines, the mermaid seemed finally ready to talk about what was bothering her. Ines offered her more tea, which Chiara accepted gratefully, and then she told Ines the truth about her mother.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Ines replied once Chiara had finished. “I wish there was something I could do to help…”
The mermaid only nodded, but she seemed to appreciate Ines’ kind words.
“I have to go,” Chiara said. “I need to check on my mother.”
“Of course,” Ines replied, nodding. The two of them embraced, and then Chiara was off. Ines wished there was more she could do to help, but all that could be done was to hope things got better.
As she approached the entrance, a guard greeted her. This guard was much taller than Chiara was, and her tail, which had a blue glow, was decorated in the distinct navy colored uniform of the royal guard. The guard looked at her cautiously and asked what she was doing there.
“I need to talk to the queen,” Chiara pleaded. Before the guard could shoot her down, Chiara interrupted. “My mother is ill. She’s the only one I have, and I don’t know what to do. I know the Queen is in contact with the Fae… Maybe she could get a magical remedy or something.” She’d started crying so she wiped her tears away hastily. “Please.”
Stoically, the guard eyed Chiara with a hint of concern, but otherwise there were no emotions giving her away. “My apologies.” the guard started, and Chiara could feel her heart drop. “The queen is very busy today with meetings. I will pass the message along, but I would not get your hopes up. The queen does not ever request magical support from the Fae.”
Chiara was devastated, but left without any trouble. She hadn’t expected the queen to just walk out in front of her and present her with a magical cure, but she had expected at least some response or perhaps some flicker of hope. She appreciated the guard’s honesty, but the response was heartbreaking. She worked her tail off trying to make some additional money to help her mom with, but it wasn’t enough and her mom’s condition had been getting worse recently. She’d already talked to a doctor on the surface and they weren’t any help either.
She couldn’t go back to her home just yet. Her mom had no idea where she’d gone, but she couldn’t face her, for fear of disappointing her. Instead, Chiara swam off to hopefully get some solitude. Her mind racing about what she could try next, she didn’t even notice herself swimming towards her and her mom’s favorite spot.
***
Ines was sat at her restaurant. She spent her time sitting outside at one of the mermaid accessible tables, bare feet dangling in the water, drinking tea, and reading one of her many books from her collection.This week, she’d chosen a classic: The Mermaid’s Tale. It was all about love and sacrifice, and she’d probably read it a hundred times already, but she loved it enough to read it once more.
Despite the good book in her hands and the calming effect of her herbal tea, Ines was lonely. The restaurant had closed for the day due to a holiday in the human’s religion. Though she was a human, she did not practice this holiday, but she knew that business would be slow because of it, so she’d given all her servers and kitchen staff the day off.
Ines was about to take another sip of her tea, when a small head popped up out of the water. Startled, she nearly spilled the rest of her drink, but she managed to control her tremor and set the cup down hastily.
“Oh, hello!” Ines called to the mermaid. “Unfortunately, we’re closed today.”
The mermaid turned, startled as well, and Ines recognized her immediately.
“Chiara!” Ines said happily. “It’s so nice to see you. It’s been quite some time since you and your mother came to the restaurant. I was beginning to worry.” She laughed a little to herself, but frowned when she saw the sad expression on Chiara’s face. “Are you alright, dear?”
Immediately, Chiara started crying.
Because she had trouble moving on her own, and Chiara was still in the water, Ines beckoned the girl over with gentle words. Eventually, and despite some hesitation, Chiara swam over to the table where Ines was sat, and took one of the seats that was partially submerged.
“Tea?” Ines offered.
Chiara nodded and drank the tea carefully when one of Ines’s Automata supplied it. It was hot enough to burn her tongue so she blew on it first and then drank it hastily. It had been a while since she’d had any human food.
“My grandson is working on some hoverboard technology,” Ines said, breaking the silence. She could tell Chiara wasn’t interested in talking, so she obliged to take over the conversation for the two of them. “He’s really into technology. I don’t personally understand it, but I’m glad it makes him happy. Sometimes I wonder if he gets too into his work, but I suppose its fine as long as he’s sleeping enough.”
The young mermaid was silent, but Ines could tell she was still listening.
“Did I ever tell you about the time I visited Silvercross?”
Chiara’s head jerked up at that, so Ines happily told her the story of how she ended up at Madrenice’s worst prison.
After her story finished, and Chiara had started actually speaking to Ines, the mermaid seemed finally ready to talk about what was bothering her. Ines offered her more tea, which Chiara accepted gratefully, and then she told Ines the truth about her mother.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Ines replied once Chiara had finished. “I wish there was something I could do to help…”
The mermaid only nodded, but she seemed to appreciate Ines’ kind words.
“I have to go,” Chiara said. “I need to check on my mother.”
“Of course,” Ines replied, nodding. The two of them embraced, and then Chiara was off. Ines wished there was more she could do to help, but all that could be done was to hope things got better.